Some businesses can now move into Gettysburg's health care district

Small restaurants, residences and offices are now allowed in the area along South Washington Street

Restaurant owners looking to expand in Gettysburg now have more options thanks to a zoning ordinance approved by Borough Council on April 14.

The council voted 6-3 to amend the borough's zoning ordinance and map to allow certain dwellings and small businesses in the borough's Health Care District, which runs along South Washington Street between Lincoln Lane and Court Alley.

These changes, borough council members said, have been in the works for nearly three years. After several consultations with the borough and county planning commissions, as well as multiple public meetings, most of the council said they felt ready to put the issue to rest.

"We've had discussions with the property owners, we've had discussions with the hospital about the use of that property, which they said they didn't need, so we're just trying to move this thing on," said Council Member John Butterfield.

Prior to the April 14 vote, the Health Care District only permitted health care service buildings.

Last April, however, the hospital told the borough it had little interest in expanding, and council was consequently more amenable to the idea of allowing other businesses to develop in the space.

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The following uses are allowed under the revised ordinance: apartments; condominiums; single-family dwellings; two-family dwellings; bed and breakfasts; day care centers; live-work units; no-impact home-based businesses; personal services; and professional and business offices.

Restaurants and other small businesses would be allowed under certain circumstances.

Council members Jacob Schindel, Scot Pitzer and Kyle Leinbach voted against the amendment at the April 14 meeting. All three said they felt the ordinance needed more work.

Pitzer specifically expressed concerns that the amendment could restrict economic development in the area.

"I agree that the revisions do create new opportunities, however, after two-and-a-half years of review I feel we should be hitting a grand slam and not an opposite field single," he said.

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